U.S. patent application number 10/644305 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for information distribution service system based on predicted changes in location of mobile information terminal.
Invention is credited to Aoki, Hideyuki, Murakami, Norio.
Application Number | 20040127217 10/644305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31712285 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040127217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aoki, Hideyuki ; et
al. |
July 1, 2004 |
Information distribution service system based on predicted changes
in location of mobile information terminal
Abstract
In an information distribution service system comprising a
plurality of mobile information terminals, a computer system and a
plurality of information-provider terminals, the computer system is
provided with a user-information database for registration
information categories provided for the mobile information
terminals' users each serving as a recipient of an information
distribution service rendered by the information distribution
service system, an information-provider database for registering
locations of the information-provider terminals and information to
be distributed by the information-provider terminals as
notifications, and a location management unit provided for the
purpose of inferring changes in location of each mobile information
terminal in a time series by using an inference formula provided in
advance for predicting the particular mobile information terminal's
moving direction and location on the basis of information on
locations of the particular mobile information terminal, and the
purpose of determining an information-provider terminal predicted
to exist at a predicted destination of the movement of the
particular mobile information terminal on the basis of the
locations of the information-provider terminals and determining
information to be transmitted by the determined
information-provider terminal as a notification to the particular
mobile information terminal.
Inventors: |
Aoki, Hideyuki; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Murakami, Norio; (Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KATTEN MUCHIN ZAVIS ROSENMAN
575 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022-2585
US
|
Family ID: |
31712285 |
Appl. No.: |
10/644305 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/435.1 ;
455/404.2; 455/456.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 41/00 20130101;
H04L 69/329 20130101; H04W 64/00 20130101; G08G 1/0962 20130101;
H04L 41/12 20130101; H04L 67/18 20130101; H04L 29/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/435.1 ;
455/404.2; 455/456.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 3, 2002 |
JP |
2002-257813 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information distribution service system comprising a
plurality of mobile information terminals, a computer system and a
plurality of information-provider terminals wherein said mobile
information terminals, said computer system and said
information-provider terminals are connected to each other by a
communication network, wherein said computer system predicts a
mobile information terminal's moving destination and moving
direction by inferring said mobile-information terminal's location
displacements along the time series on the basis of information on
locations of said mobile information terminal including a
pre-registered information category whose information distribution
service, distribution and notification are desired, and on the
basis of an inference formula provided in advance with said mobile
information terminal's moving direction and location; and said
computer system determines an information-provider terminal
predicted to exist at said predicted moving destination of said
mobile information terminal on the basis of locations of
information-provider terminals pre-recording plans to distribute
information as a notification, and determines distributed and
reported information corresponding to an information category
registered in advance by said mobile information terminal among
pieces of information to be provided by said selected
information-provider terminal.
2. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein said computer system is provided with an inference formula
for predicting a moving direction for each geographical position
with said geographical position taken as an origin on the basis of
map information; and said computer system, if existence at an
origin to which an inference formula is applied is confirmed on the
basis of information on locations of said mobile information
terminal, infers prediction of said mobile information terminal's
moving destination and moving direction on the basis of said
inference formula.
3. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein each of a plurality of said inference formulas is defined
on the basis of map information having a plurality of scale
factors.
4. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein said computer system executes the steps of: regarding said
defined inference formula as an equation representing a regression
straight line; finding a distance between a location represented by
said reference formula and the location of said
information-provider terminal by adoption of a least-square method;
and determining that an information-provider terminal exists in the
vicinity of said predicted moving destination of said mobile
information terminal if said distance is within an allowable range
determined for said defined inference formula.
5. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein said computer system forms a judgment as to whether or not
an inference formula defined on the basis of information on
locations of said mobile information terminal is proper and, if
said defined inference formula is found improper, a new inference
formula is defined.
6. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein if it is impossible to determine an inference formula for
predicting said mobile information terminal's moving direction and
location from location displacements of said mobile information
terminal with each geographical position used as an origin on the
basis of map information, said computer system finds an inference
formula for predicting said mobile information terminal's most
recent moving destination and most recent moving direction each
time most recent information on a location of said mobile
information terminal is obtained.
7. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein if an inference formula, which is found as an equation for
predicting said mobile information terminal's moving destination
and moving direction each time most recent information on a
location of said mobile information terminal is obtained, changes
very frequently in a time series, said computer system predicts a
polarity of a movement of said mobile information terminal by
application of a partial derivative and on the basis of said mobile
information terminal's location information accumulated in the
past.
8. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein if said mobile information terminal makes an urgent request
for information on a place in an area at which said mobile
information terminal is currently located, said computer system
transmits said information based on most recent information on a
location of said mobile information terminal.
9. An information distribution service system according to claim 1,
wherein said computer system executes the steps of: informing a
mobile-communication operator of information on a mobile
information terminal moving to a location at a place in an area at
and/or in said mobile information terminal's moving destination
and/or moving direction predicted on the basis of an inference
formula defined from information on locations of said mobile
information terminal; finding a moving speed of said mobile
information terminal from location information accumulated in the
past; informing an information-provider terminal inferred to be a
terminal located at said mobile information terminal's moving
destination of an expected time of arrival of said mobile
information terminal at said moving destination where said expected
time of arrival is a time predicted by using an inference formula
based on a present location of said mobile information terminal;
determining moving means, on which a user of said mobile
information terminal is riding, from a combination of said mobile
information terminal's moving speed and displacements in location
information; and informing said mobile-information terminal of
operational information obtained from an enterprise managing
operations of said moving means.
10. An information distribution service system according to claim
1, wherein said computer system receives a response to information
transmitted to said mobile information terminal as a notification
from said mobile information terminal and records, separates as
well as analyzes said response.
11. An information distribution service system according to claim
1, wherein said computer system informs said information-provider
terminal of a result of an analysis of said response by said mobile
information terminal.
12. An information distribution service system according to claim
1, wherein said computer system carries out a statistical analysis
to improve a priority order of distributed notifications, contents
of information and inference precision on the basis of a response
by said mobile information terminal, attributes and category
information, which have been registered by the user, and contents
of a notification distributed by said information-provider
terminal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates a technique of rendering an
information distribution service to provide a user of a mobile
information terminal with information such as area information
optimum for a predicted location of the user in advance.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Up to this time, a service and/or a function based on
information on location of the conventional mobile information
terminal allow information on the vicinity of the present location
(the current location) of the mobile information terminal to be
obtained by determining or inputting the present location. That is
to say, the information on the vicinity of the present location of
the mobile information terminal can be obtained only on condition
that the mobile information terminal is currently located at the
present location. In addition, there are also cases in which the
mobile information terminal is provided with obsolete information
no longer required by the user of the mobile information terminal.
An example of such information is information about an area already
left by the mobile information terminal. Furthermore, there is no
means for distributing information to mobile information terminals
moving to a specific direction by adoption of a multi-casting or
broadcasting technique.
[0005] However, the conventional information distribution service
has the following problems. If a user carrying a mobile information
terminal does not enter information on a destination of the
movement of the user to the terminal, the existence of information
on the destination of the movement or information on an area on the
way in the direction of the movement is not known. In general, only
information on the vicinity of the present location of the mobile
information terminal can be obtained and distributed information
includes obsolete information not required by the user. In
addition, the obsolete information not required by the user is
displayed in some cases. Furthermore, information on accidents at a
destination of a mobile information terminal moving to a specific
direction, and disaster or urgent information cannot be transmitted
to the mobile information terminal as a notification whereas
congestions cannot be controlled either.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
user of a mobile information terminal with information such as
advance area information suitable for a predicted moving
destination (or a predicted moving direction) of the user and to
control a mobile information terminal located at the same moving
destination (or at a location on the way to the same moving
direction).
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an information distribution service system comprising a
plurality of mobile information terminals, a computer system and a
plurality of information-provider terminals wherein said mobile
information terminals, said computer system and said
information-provider terminals are connected to each other by a
communication network, said information distribution service system
characterized in that: said computer system predicts a mobile
information terminal's moving destination and moving direction by
inferring said mobile-information terminal's location displacements
along the time series on the basis of information on locations of
said mobile information terminal including a pre-registered
information category whose information distribution service,
distribution and notification are desired, and on the basis of an
inference formula provided in advance with said mobile information
terminal's moving direction and location; and said computer system
determines an information-provider terminal predicted to exist at
said predicted moving destination of said mobile information
terminal on the basis of locations of information-provider
terminals pre-recording plans to distribute information as a
notification, and determines distributed and reported information
corresponding to an information category registered in advance by
said mobile information terminal among pieces of information to be
provided by said selected information-provider terminal.
[0008] It is desirable to provide an implementation of said
information distribution service system wherein, if it is
impossible to determine an inference formula for predicting said
mobile information terminal's moving direction and location from
location displacements of said mobile information terminal with
each geographical position used as an origin on the basis of map
information, said computer system finds an inference formula for
predicting said mobile information terminal's most recent moving
destination and most recent moving direction each time most recent
information on a location of said mobile information terminal is
obtained.
[0009] It is also desirable to provide another implementation of
said information distribution service system wherein, if an
inference formula, which is found as an equation for predicting
said mobile information terminal's moving destination and moving
direction each time most recent information on a location of said
mobile information terminal is obtained, changes very frequently in
a time series, said computer system predicts a polarity of a
movement of said mobile information terminal by application of a
partial derivative and on the basis of said mobile information
terminal's location information accumulated in the past.
[0010] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more
apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a
study of the following description and appended claims with
reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of an
information distribution system provided by the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a computer
system employed in the information distribution system shown in
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows block diagrams each showing functions of an
information-provider terminal employed in the information
distribution system shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows block diagrams each showing functions of a user
terminal employed in the information distribution system shown in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to user
management and location management;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to
information management;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to
location management;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing other functions relevant
to location management;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing further functions relevant
to location management;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to
information-provider management;
[0021] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart representing processing carried
out by the computer system;
[0022] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart representing processing of user
management;
[0023] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart representing processing of
information management;
[0024] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart representing processing of
location management;
[0025] FIG. 15 shows a flowchart representing processing of
information-provider management;
[0026] FIG. 16 shows a flowchart representing processing carried
out by a user terminal;
[0027] FIG. 17 shows a flowchart representing a process to register
a user terminal;
[0028] FIG. 18 shows a flowchart representing a process to report
information on a location;
[0029] FIG. 19 shows a flowchart representing information-display
execution processing;
[0030] FIG. 20 shows a flowchart representing processing carried
out by the information-provider terminal;
[0031] FIG. 21 shows a flowchart representing a process to register
information;
[0032] FIG. 22 shows a flowchart representing a process to change
an information display;
[0033] FIG. 23 shows a flowchart representing a process to delete
information;
[0034] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing structures of data transmitted
by the computer system to a user terminal;
[0035] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing structures of data transmitted
to the computer system by a user terminal;
[0036] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing structures of data transmitted
by the computer system to an information-provider terminal;
[0037] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing structures of data transmitted
to the computer system by an information-provider terminal;
[0038] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in a
process to register user information;
[0039] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in a
process to register provided information;
[0040] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in a
process to modify a display of provided information;
[0041] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in a
process to delete provided information;
[0042] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in an
information-providing service for a user terminal functioning as a
GPS terminal;
[0043] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in an
information-providing service for a user terminal functioning as a
non-GPS terminal;
[0044] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a user-registration screen of a
user terminal;
[0045] FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a user-registration completion
screen of a user terminal;
[0046] FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a selection menu screen for an
information provider;
[0047] FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an information-registration
screen for an information provider;
[0048] FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an information menu screen of a
user terminal;
[0049] FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an information-registration
screen for an information provider;
[0050] FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a user-registration completion
screen for an information provider;
[0051] FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an information-display-changing
screen (category selection) for an information provider;
[0052] FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an information-display-changing
screen (displaying detailed information) for an information
provider;
[0053] FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an information-changing
completion screen for an information provider;
[0054] FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an information-deletion screen
(category selection) for an information provider;
[0055] FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an information-deletion screen
(displaying detailed information deletion) for an information
provider;
[0056] FIG. 46 is a diagram showing an information-deletion screen
(displaying detailed information deletion) for an information
provider;
[0057] FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an information-deletion
completion screen for an information provider;
[0058] FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an inference mechanism;
[0059] FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an inference mechanism for a
curved road;
[0060] FIG. 50 is a diagram showing an inference mechanism for a
grid-like road;
[0061] FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing functions, which are
carried out when the user makes a request for urgent transmission
of information;
[0062] FIG. 52 is diagrams each showing a sequence of inter-bank
financial settlement operations;
[0063] FIG. 53 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0064] FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information;
[0065] FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information;
[0066] FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0067] FIG. 57 is a block diagram showing functions of a computer
system employed in the information distribution service system
shown in FIG. 56;
[0068] FIG. 58 shows a flowchart representing processing of
location management;
[0069] FIG. 59 shows a user sequence chart;
[0070] FIG. 60 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing functions of a computer
system employed in the information distribution service system
shown in FIG. 60;
[0072] FIG. 62 shows a flowchart representing processing of
location management;
[0073] FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information;
[0074] FIG. 64 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0075] FIG. 65 is a block diagram showing functions of a computer
system employed in the information distribution service system
shown in FIG. 64;
[0076] FIG. 66 shows a flowchart representing processing of
location management;
[0077] FIG. 67 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information;
[0078] FIG. 68 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0079] FIG. 69 is a block diagram showing functions of a computer
system employed in the information distribution service system
shown in FIG. 68;
[0080] FIG. 70 is a block diagram showing functions of an
information-provider management unit employed in the computer
system shown in FIG. 69;
[0081] FIG. 71 is a diagram showing the configurations of a
store-management system employed in the information distribution
service system shown in FIG. 68;
[0082] FIG. 72 is a diagram showing the configurations of another
store-management system employed in the information distribution
service system shown in FIG. 68;
[0083] FIG. 73 shows a sequence of operations carried out by the
user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0084] Before embodiments of the present invention are explained,
the principle of the present invention is described. FIG. 1 is a
diagram showing the basic configuration of an information
distribution service system. The information distribution service
system includes a computer system 2, a plurality of
information-provider terminals 4#i where i=1 to n and a plurality
of user terminals 6#i where i=1 to m. The computer system 2 is an
application service provider (ASP) connected to the
information-provider terminals 4#i and the user terminals 6#i by a
network typically comprising gateways (GWs) 8a, the Internet 8b, a
mobile-communication network 8c and enterprise networks (NW) 8d.
The information-provider terminals 4#i are each a terminal owned by
a provider supplying information to users. Examples of the
information-provider terminals 4#i are an enterprise terminal
connected to the enterprise NW 8d, a personal-business terminal
such as SOHO and a mobile terminal. On the other hand, the user
terminals 6#i are each a mobile terminal owned by a recipient of
the provided information. An example of the user terminal 6#i is a
mobile phone.
[0085] The computer system 2 has the following functions:
[0086] (i): Register the location of an information provider and
information provided to users as well as their categories for each
of the information-provider terminals 4#i.
[0087] (ii): Register the category of user information and the
category of desired information to be provided to a user for each
of the user terminals 6#i.
[0088] (iii): Infer the next location of a moving user from the
present and previous locations of the user terminal 6#i by using an
inference formula.
[0089] (iv): Determine an information provider from an inferred
location of the user terminal 6#i.
[0090] (v): Distribute information to the user terminals 6#i.
[0091] (vi): Analyze users' responses to distributed
information.
[0092] The information-provider terminal 4#i has a function of
requesting the computer system 2 to register a location thereof and
information provided thereby in the computer system 2. The
information-provider terminal 4#i can be a fixed or mobile
terminal.
[0093] The user terminal 6#i has the following functions:
[0094] (i): Request the computer system 2 to register the category
of user information and the category of desired information to be
provided to the user in the computer system 2.
[0095] (ii): Inform the computer system 2 of a location of the user
terminal 6#i in case the user terminal 6#i is a GPS (Global
Positioning System)-function terminal. Request a
mobile-communication operator to inform the computer system 2 of a
location of the user terminal 6#i in case the user terminal 6#i is
a non-GPS-function terminal.
[0096] (iii): Display information received from the computer system
2 and transmits a response to the information to the computer
system 2.
[0097] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the
computer system 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the computer system 2
includes a CPU 10, an execution processing unit 12, a communication
processing unit 14 and a storage unit 16. The execution processing
unit 12 includes a user management unit 20, a location management
unit 22, an information management unit 24 and an
information-distribution management unit 25. The communication
processing unit 14 communicates with the information-provider
terminals 4#i and the user terminals 6#i through gateways (GWs) 8a,
the Internet 8b, the mobile-communication network 8c and enterprise
networks (NW) 8d. The storage unit 16 is used for storing a
user-information database 26, a user-location database 28, an
information-provider database 30, an area-information database 32,
an inferred-information database 34 and an analysis database
36.
[0098] FIG. 3 is block diagrams each showing functions of the
information-provider terminal 4#i. To be more specific, FIG. 3(a)
is a block diagram showing functions of a mobile
information-provider terminal while FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram
showing functions of a fixed information-provider terminal. The
mobile information-provider terminal's configuration elements
essentially identical to those of the fixed information-provider
terminal are denoted by the same reference numerals as their
counterparts in the fixed information-provider terminal. As shown
in FIG. 3(a), the mobile information-provider terminal comprises a
CPU 50, an execution processing unit 51, a radio-communication
processing unit 52, a display unit 54, a storage unit 56 and an
input unit 58. The execution processing unit 51 includes an
information-registration processing unit 60, an
information-display-execution processing unit 62. On the other
hand, the fixed information-provider terminal comprises a CPU 50,
an execution processing unit 51, a communication processing unit
70, a display unit 54, a storage unit 56 and an input unit 58 as
shown in FIG. 3(b).
[0099] FIG. 4 is block diagrams each showing functions of the user
terminal 6#i. To be more specific, FIG. 4(a) is a block diagram
showing functions of a non-GPS user information terminal while FIG.
4(b) is a block diagram showing functions of a GPS user information
terminal. The non-GPS user terminal's configuration elements
essentially identical to those of the GPS user terminal are denoted
by the same reference numerals as their counterparts in the GPS
user terminal. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the non-GPS user information
terminal comprises a CPU 80, an execution processing unit 82, a
radio-communication processing unit 84, a display unit 86, a
storage unit 88 and an input unit 96. The execution processing unit
82 includes a terminal-registration processing unit 90, a
location-information-reporting processing unit 92 and an
information display execution processing unit 94. On the other
hand, the GPS user information terminal comprises a GPS-apparatus
unit 100 in addition to the non-GPS user information terminal as
shown in FIG. 4(b).
[0100] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to user
management and location management. A user management unit 20
comprises a user-interface processing unit 150, a
user-service-reception processing unit 152, a registration-service
analysis processing unit 154 and a registration-menu output
processing unit 156.
[0101] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions relevant to
information management. FIGS. 7 to 9 are each a block diagram
showing functions relevant to location management control. FIG. 10
is a block diagram showing functions relevant to information
distribution management.
[0102] The location management unit 22 comprises the user-interface
processing unit 150, a user-location information reception
processing unit 160 and the user-location information history
management processing unit 162, which are shown in FIG. 5, an
inference-formula generation processing unit 230 shown in FIG. 7, a
user-present-location information determination processing unit
260, an inference-formula-candidate extraction determination
processing unit 262, a user-displacement-locatio- n history
processing unit 264, an inference-formula determination processing
unit 266, an information-provider-location determination processing
unit 270, an information-provider-candidate extraction
determination processing unit 272 and an information-provider
determination processing unit 274, which are shown in FIG. 8, a
user-displacement adequacy check processing unit 300, a
distribution-order determination processing unit 302, an
Information-distribution processing management unit 304 and an
Information-distribution execution processing unit 306, which are
shown in FIG. 9.
[0103] The information management unit 24 includes an
information-provider interface processing unit 200, an
information-provider registration reception processing unit 202, a
registration menu output processing unit 204 and a
registration-information analysis processing unit 206, which are
shown in FIG. 6. The information-provider management unit 25
comprises a user-interface processing unit 150, a
distributed-information user-response reception processing unit
350, a user analysis processing unit 352, an information-provider
analysis processing unit 354, a response-attribute analysis
processing unit 356, an analysis-result edit processing unit 358,
an analysis-result communication processing unit 360, the
information-provider interface processing unit 200 and an
analysis-result-report-writing processing unit 362, which are shown
in FIG. 10.
[0104] The user-information database 26 is a database for storing
information on users. The user-information database 26 has a user
master database 170 and a user registration service category master
database 172, which are shown in FIG. 5. The user-location database
28 is a database for storing information on locations of users. The
user-location database 28 comprises a user-location master database
180 and a user-location information history database 182. The
information-provider database 30 is a database for storing
information on information providers. The information-provider
database 30 includes an information-provider master database 210
and a registration-information category master database 212, which
are shown in FIG. 6.
[0105] The area-information database 32 is a database for storing
information on areas such as traffic information in areas,
information on trunks and train schedules. The inferred-information
database 34 is a database for storing information required for
inferring the location of a user. The inferred-information database
34 has a map-information master database 232 and an
inference-formula master database 234, which are shown in FIG. 7, a
user present location database 280, a user location displacement
database 284, a candidate inference-formula database 286, a
determined-inference-formula database 288, an information-provider
location database 290, a candidate information-provider database
292 and an information-provider database 294, which are shown in
FIG. 8, and a target-user database 310, a distribution target
information-provider database 312 and a distribution log database
314, which are shown in FIG. 9. The analysis database 36 is a
database for storing data required in analyses of responses of
users to the information given by the information provider. The
analysis database 36 comprises a user response result master
database 378, a user analysis log database 380, an
information-provider analysis log database 382, a
response-attribute analysis log database 384 and an analysis result
database 386, which are shown in FIG. 10.
[0106] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart representing processing carried
out by the computer system 2. FIG. 12 shows a flowchart
representing user management processing. FIG. 13 shows a flowchart
representing information management processing. FIG. 14 shows a
flowchart representing location management processing. FIG. 15
shows a flowchart representing information-provider management
processing. FIG. 16 shows a flowchart representing processing
carried out by a user terminal. FIG. 17 shows a flowchart
representing processing to register a user terminal. FIG. 18 shows
a flowchart representing processing to report location information.
FIG. 19 shows a flowchart representing information-display
execution processing. FIG. 20 shows a flowchart representing
processing carried out by the information-provider terminal. FIG.
21 shows a flowchart representing a process to register
information. FIG. 22 shows a flowchart representing processing to
change an information display. FIG. 23 shows a flowchart
representing processing to delete information.
[0107] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing structures of data transmitted
by the computer system to a user terminal. FIG. 25 is a diagram
showing structures of data transmitted by a user terminal to the
computer system. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing structures of data
transmitted by the computer system to an information-provider
terminal. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing structures of data
transmitted by an information-provider terminal to the computer
system.
[0108] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in
processing to register user information. FIG. 29 is a diagram
showing a basic sequence shown in processing to register provided
information. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in
processing to modify a display of provided information. FIG. 31 is
a diagram showing a basic sequence shown in processing to delete
provided information. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a basic sequence
shown in an information-providing service for a user terminal
functioning as a GPS terminal. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a basic
sequence shown in an information-providing service for a user
terminal functioning as a non-GPS terminal.
[0109] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a user-registration screen of a
user terminal. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a user-registration
completion screen of a user terminal. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing
a selection menu screen for an information provider. FIG. 37 is a
diagram showing an information-registration screen for an
information provider. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an information
menu screen of a user terminal. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an
information-registration screen for an information provider. FIG.
40 is a diagram showing a user-registration completion screen for
an information provider. FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an
information-display-changing screen (category selection) for an
information provider. FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an
information-display-changing screen (displaying detailed
information) for an information provider. FIG. 43 is a diagram
showing an information-changing completion screen for an
information provider. FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an
information-deletion screen (category selection) for an information
provider. FIGS. 45 and 46 are each a diagram showing an
information-deletion screen (displaying detailed information
deletion) for an information provider. FIG. 47 is a diagram showing
an information-deletion completion screen for an information
provider. FIGS. 48 to 50 are each a diagram showing an inference
mechanism.
[0110] (1): Registration of User Information
[0111] At a step S200 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 16, the
terminal-registration processing unit 90 carries out a process to
register a user terminal as follows. The user makes a request for a
user-registration menu by entering a special number or the like via
a keyboard. At a step S250 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, the
terminal-registration processing unit 90 forms a judgment as to
whether or not a request for a user-registration menu has been
received. If a request for a user-registration menu has been
received, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S252. If a
request for a user-registration menu has not been received, on the
other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S254.
Since the user has made a request for a user-registration menu, in
this case, the flow of the processing goes on to the step S252. At
the step S252, the request for a user-registration menu is
transmitted to the computer system 2 as indicated by an arrow (2)
of the basis sequence shown in FIG. 28. As shown in FIG. 25(a), the
request for a user-registration menu includes a request
identification number and the IP address of the user terminal 6#i
or the phone number of the user terminal 6#i.
[0112] At a step S2 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the user
management unit 20 carries out the following processing. The
request for a user-registration menu is received by the user
service reception processing unit 152 by way of the user-interface
processing unit 150 shown in FIG. 5. At a step S20 of the flowchart
shown in FIG. 12, the user-interface processing unit 150 forms a
judgment as to whether or not the request for a user-registration
menu has been received. If the request for a user-registration menu
has been received, the flow of the processing goes on to a step
S22. If the request for a user-registration menu has not been
received, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to
a step S24.
[0113] Since the request for a user-registration menu has been
received, in this case, the flow of the processing goes on to the
step S22. At the step S22, the registration-menu output processing
unit 156 shown in FIG. 5 transmits a user-registration menu to the
user terminal 6#i by way of the user-interface processing unit 150
as indicated by an arrow (6) of the basic sequence shown in FIG.
28. As indicated by an arrow (8) of the basic sequence shown in
FIG. 28, the user-registration menu is transmitted to the user
terminal 6#i by way of a mobile-communication operator. As shown in
FIG. 24(a), a packet of the user-registration menu includes an
identification number, the IP address of the user terminal 6#i or
the phone number of the user terminal 6#i and the user-registration
menu itself. The IP address or the telephone number is included in
a packet used for making a request for the user-registration
menu.
[0114] At a step S254 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, the
terminal-registration processing unit 90 forms a judgment as to
whether or not a user-registration menu has been received. If a
user-registration menu has been received, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S256. If a user-registration menu has
not been received, on the other hand, the flow of the processing
goes on to a step S258. At the step S256, the terminal-registration
processing unit 90 displays the user-registration menu on the
display unit 86. As shown in FIG. 34, the user-registration menu
displays information on the user, categories of information to be
provided to the user as desired by the user and a menu operation
portion. The information on the user includes a user name and a
password. The categories of information to be provided to the user
as desired by the user include information on traffic, information
on shopping, information on events and information on restaurants.
The menu operation portion includes REGISTER, CANCEL, URGENT, LIST
and HELP buttons. The URGENT button is operated to indicate that
the desired information is needed now. The LIST button is operated
to display detailed information for checking registered
information. The HELP button is operated to display guidance
information.
[0115] The user enters user-registration information including a
user name, a password and an information category in accordance
with a user-registration menu appearing on the display unit 86 and
then presses the REGISTER button. At the step S258 of the flowchart
shown in FIG. 17, a judgment is formed to determine whether or not
the user-registration information has been entered. If the
user-registration information has been entered, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S259. If the user-registration
information has not been entered, on the other hand, the flow of
the processing goes on to a step S260. Since the user-registration
information has been entered, in this case, the flow of the
processing goes on to the step S259. At the step S259, a
user-information input packet shown in FIG. 25(b) is transmitted to
the computer system 2 as indicated by an arrow (10) of the basic
sequence shown in FIG. 28. The user-information input packet
typically includes a request identification number, the IP address
of the user terminal 6#i or the phone number of the user terminal
6#i, the password, the user name and the information category. As
indicated by an arrow (12) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 28,
the user-information input packet is transmitted to the computer
system 2 by way of the mobile-communication operator.
[0116] At the step S24 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, a
judgment is formed to determine whether or not the
user-registration information has been received. If the
user-registration information has been received, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S26. If the user-registration
information has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is ended. Since the user-registration information has
been received, in this case, the flow of the processing goes on to
the step S26. At the step S26, the registration-service analysis
processing unit 154 shown in FIG. 5 forms a judgment as to whether
or not the user is a new user. If the user is a new user, the flow
of the processing goes on to a step S28. If the user is not a new
user, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a
step S30. The judgment as to whether or not the user is a new user
is formed by finding out whether or not the same user name has been
registered in the user master database 170 of the user-information
database 26.
[0117] At the step S28 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the user
name, the password and the IP address or the phone number are
registered in the user master database 170. The user name and the
information category are registered in the user registration
service category master database 172 for the category. At the step
S30, the password included in the user-registration information is
compared with a password already registered in the user-information
database 26 to determine whether or not the password included in
the user-registration information is valid. If the password
included in the user-registration information is found valid, the
flow of the processing goes on to a step S31 at which the modified
user-registration information is registered in the user-information
database 26. Then, the flow of the processing goes on to a step
S32. If the password included in the user-registration information
is found invalid, on the other hand, the flow of the processing
goes on to a step S34.
[0118] At the step S32, a packet containing a
user-information-inputting operation completion notification
including an identification number, an IP address or a phone number
and completion information as shown in FIG. 24(b) is transmitted to
the user terminal 6#i as indicated by an arrow (14) of the basic
sequence shown in FIG. 28. The notification of
user-information-inputting operation completion is transmitted as
indicated by an arrow (16) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 28
to the user terminal 6#i by way of the mobile-communication
operator. In the case of an invalid password, however, the user is
requested to reenter a password at the step S34 of the flowchart
shown in FIG. 12. At a step S260 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17,
a judgment is formed to determine whether or not a notification of
user-information-inputting operation completion has been received.
If a notification of user-information-inputting operation
completion has been received, the flow of the processing goes on to
a step S262. If a notification of user-information-inputting
operation completion has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is finished. At the step S262, a user-registration
result like the one show in FIG. 35 is displayed on the display
unit 86.
[0119] (2): Information Registration
[0120] At a step S400 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, the
information-registration processing unit 60 employed in the
information-provider terminal 4#i carries out processing to
register information as follows. The following description explains
the processing to register information for a case in which the
information-provider terminal is a mobile terminal. A selection
menu shown in FIG. 36 is transmitted by the computer system 2 and
displayed on a screen by the information-registration processing
unit 60. The user is allowed to select one of operations to
register, display, change and delete information. Assume that the
user selects the operation to register information. At a step S420
of the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, the information-registration
processing unit 60 forms a judgment as to whether or not a request
for an information-registration menu has been made. If a request
for an information-registration menu has been made, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S422. If a request for an
information-registration menu has not been made, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S424. Since a request
for an information-registration menu has been made, in this case,
the flow of the processing goes on to the step S422. At the step
S422, the request for an information-registration menu shown in
FIG. 27(a) is transmitted to the computer system 2 as indicated by
an arrow (50) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 29.
[0121] At a step S4 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the
information management unit 24 carries out the following
processing. At a step S150 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, a
judgment is formed to determine whether or not a request for an
information-registration menu has been made. If a request for an
information-registration menu has been made, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S152. If a request for an
information-registration menu has not been made, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S154. At the step
S152, a packet of the information-registration menu is transmitted
to the information-provider terminal 4#i by way of the
mobile-communication operator as indicated by an arrow (52) of the
basic sequence shown in FIG. 29. As shown in FIG. 26(a), the packet
of the information-registration menu includes an identification
number, an IP address of or a phone number and the
information-registration menu itself.
[0122] At a step S424 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, a judgment
is formed to determine whether or not an information-registration
menu has been received. If an information-registration menu has
been received, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S426.
If an information-registration menu has not been received, on the
other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S428. At
the step S426, the information-registration menu shown in FIG. 37
is displayed on the display unit 54. The screen of the
information-registration menu is identical to the screen of the
user-registration menu. If information on shopping is entered as a
category of information provided by the information provider, for
example, an information menu shown in FIG. 38 is displayed. If
category information in the information menu is entered, a
detailed-information input screen shown in FIG. 39 is
displayed.
[0123] The information provider enters detailed information like
one shown in FIG. 39. As the operation to enter the detailed
information is completed, the information provider clicks a
REGISTER button. At a step S428 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12,
a judgment is formed to determine whether or not information to be
provided has been entered. If information to be provided has been
entered, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S430. If
information to be provided has not been entered, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S432. At the step
S430, the information-registration processing unit 60 transmits
inform to be provided to the computer system 2 as indicated by an
arrow (54) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 29. As shown in FIG.
27(b), the information to be provided includes a password, category
information and detailed information.
[0124] The provided information is transferred to the
information-provider registration reception processing unit 202 by
way of the information-provider interface processing unit 200 shown
in FIG. 6. At a step S154 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, the
information-provider registration reception processing unit 202
forms a judgment as to whether or not the provided information has
been received. If the provided information has been received, the
flow of the processing goes on to a step S156. If the provided
information has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is ended. At the step S156, the registration-information
analysis processing unit 206 shown in FIG. 6 checks the provided
information, registers the information on the information provider
in the information-provider master database 210 as indicated by an
arrow (55) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 29 and registers the
provided information of the information provider in the
registration-information category master database 212 for the
category of the provided information. At a step S158 of the
flowchart shown in FIG. 13, a provided-information-inputting
completion notification shown in FIG. 26(b) is reported to the
information-provider terminal 4#i by way of the
mobile-communication operator as indicated by an arrow (56) of the
basic sequence shown in FIG. 29.
[0125] At a step S432 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, a judgment
is formed to determine whether or not the
provided-information-inputting completion notification has been
received. If the provided-information-in- putting completion
notification has been received, the flow of the processing goes on
to a step S434. If the provided-information-inputting completion
notification has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is ended. At the step S434, an information-registration
result shown in FIG. 40 is displayed. If the information provider
is a fixed terminal, operations indicated by arrows (70) to (76)
are carried out. It is to be noted that, if the
information-provider terminal 4#i is a mobile terminal, information
on the location of the information-provider terminal 4#i is
transmitted to the computer system 2 by execution of the same
procedure as a procedure of transmitting information on the
location of a user terminal 6#i. The procedure of transmitting
information on the location of a user terminal 6#i to the computer
system 2 will be described later. The location management unit 22
updates the information on the location of the information-provider
terminal 4#i with the most recent information received as such. The
information on the location of the information-provider terminal
4#i is stored in the information-provider master database 210.
[0126] (3): Modification of Information Display
[0127] The information provider is capable of changing provided
information. At a step S402 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, a
process to change an information display is carried out. Detailed
operations of the process to change an information display are
carried out at steps S450 to S464 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
22. If the information provider is a mobile terminal, the following
processing is carried out. As indicated by an arrow (80) of the
basic sequence shown in FIG. 30, the information-provider terminal
4#i transmits an information-display-changi- ng menu request shown
in FIG. 27(f) to the computer system 2. As indicated by an arrow
(82), the computer system 2 transmits an
information-display-changing menu shown in FIG. 26(f) to the
information-provider terminal 4#i. The information-provider
terminal 4#i displays an information-display-changing menu screen
shown in FIG. 41. The information provider changes details of the
provided information as shown in FIG. 42. As indicated by an arrow
(84) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 30, the
information-provider terminal 4#i transmits a
provided-information-change request shown in FIG. 27(d) to the
computer system 2. As indicated by an arrow (86), the computer
system 2 transmits a provided-information-completion notification
shown in FIG. 26(d) to the information-provider terminal 4#i. The
information-provider terminal 4#i displays a
provided-information-change completion notification screen shown in
FIG. 43. As indicated by an arrow (87), the computer system 2
updates the provided information stored in the information-provider
master database 210 with the changes in provided information.
[0128] If the information provider is a fixed terminal, on the
other hand, operations indicated by arrows (90) to (95) are carried
out.
[0129] (4): Deletion of Information
[0130] The information provider is capable of deleting provided
information. At a step S404 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, a
process to delete provided information is carried out. Detailed
operations of the process to delete provided information are
carried out at steps S480 to S494 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
23. The process to delete provided information is similar to the
process to change provided information. If the information provider
is a mobile terminal, operations indicated by arrows (100) to (106)
of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 31 are carried out. If the
information provider is a fixed terminal, on the other hand,
operations indicated by arrows (110) to (116) are carried out. In
the case of the process to delete provided information, an
information deletion screen shown in FIG. 44,
detailed-information-deletion screens shown in FIGS. 45 to 46 and
an information deletion completion screen shown in FIG. 47 are
displayed.
[0131] (5): Location Inference
[0132] (a): Location Inference for a GPS Terminal
[0133] When the user operates the user terminal 6#i to specify a
SERVICE button appearing on the screen shown in FIG. 34, as
indicated by an arrow (150) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 32,
the user terminal 6#i transmits a service-start request shown in
FIG. 25(f) to the computer system 2. The user terminal 6#i carries
out a process to register a location at a step S202 of the
flowchart shown in FIG. 16 as follows. At a step S300 of the
flowchart shown in FIG. 18, a judgment is formed to determine
whether or not a GPS function is embedded. If a GPS function is
embedded, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S302. If a
GPS function is not embedded, on the other hand, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S306.
[0134] At the step S302, the GPS-apparatus unit 100 shown in FIG. 4
measures its own location. Then, at the next step S304, a location
information notification message shown in FIG. 25(c) is transmitted
to the computer system 2 as indicated by an arrow (152) of the
basic sequence shown in FIG. 32. The location information
notification message includes a request identification number, an
IP address or a phone number, location information comprising a
latitude and a longitude and time information. The location
information is supplied to the user-location information reception
processing unit 160 by way of the user-interface processing unit
150 shown in FIG. 5. At a step S52 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
14, the user-location information reception processing unit 160
stores the location information in the user-location master
database 180. The user-location information history management
processing unit 162 reads out the location information from the
user-location master database 180 and stores the information in the
user-location information history database 182.
[0135] (b): Location Inference for Non-GPS Terminal
[0136] Much like a GPS terminal, a non-GPS terminal makes a request
for a start of a service as indicated by an arrow (200) of the
basic sequence shown in FIG. 33. In the case of a non-GPS terminal,
however, location information is reported to the computer system 2
by requesting the mobile-communication operator to inform the
computer system 2 of the location information at a step S306 of the
flowchart shown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 25(e), the location
information includes a request identification number and an IP
address or a phone number. The terminal's latitude and longitude
included in the location information are passed on by the
mobile-communication operator to the computer system 2.
[0137] At a step S54 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, a moving
direction and a movement time are computed by inference as follows.
The inference-formula generation processing unit 230 shown in FIG.
7 generates an inference formula from map information stored in the
map-information master database 232 and stores the inference
formula into the inference-formula master database 234. In the
generation of the inference formula, the latitudes and the
longitudes of a start point and an end point are quantized. The
start point is regarded as an origin in a 2-dimensional space.
Assume for example that the present location is in the vicinity of
a station closest to a busy quarters. An inference formula
predicting the user's movement from the present location serving as
the start point of the movement is a formula stored in the
inference-formula master database 234. If there are a plurality of
candidates for the direction of the movement, a plurality of
inference formulas should also have been stored in the
inference-formula master database 234 as well. In addition, an
inference formula is created in accordance with a plurality of
pieces of map information with different reduced scales for each
start point.
[0138] The inference formula is typically an equation expressing a
relation between y and x with the start point taken as the origin
(0, 0) where x and y are the coordinates of a measured position (x,
y). In this case, the x-distance is the co-ordinates extending from
the origin (0, 0) to the East direction whereas the y-distance is
the co-ordinates extending from the origin (0, 0) to the North
direction. An x coordinate of a location (x, y) is a distance from
the origin (0, 0) to the location (x, y) along the x-distance
whereas a y coordinate of a location (x, y) is a distance from the
origin (0, 0) to the location (x, y) along the y-distance. In
addition, the map information in use has a variety of scales
ranging from a fine scale to a coarse one.
[0139] Assume for example that map information having a fine scale
is used. In this case, an inference formula is provided for each
branch point such as a point of intersection. If map information
having a coarse scale is used, on the other hand, an inference
formula is provided only for each big branch point such as a branch
point on a trunk road as an inference formula expressing a rough
direction. Map information having a relatively coarse scale is used
for a high-speed movement of a car or a train. On the other hand,
map information having a relatively fine scale is used for a
low-speed movement such as a walk of a strolling user carrying a
mobile terminal. In this way, the location of a mobile terminal can
be inferred with a high degree of accuracy.
[0140] The user-present-location information determination
processing unit 260 shown in FIG. 8 determines the next location of
a user from the user-location information history database 182 and
stores information on the location in the user present location
database 280. The inference-formula-candidate extraction
determination processing unit 262 extracts an inference formula or
a plurality of inference formulas from the inference-formula master
database 234 and user present location database 280, and stores the
extracted inference formulas in the candidate inference-formula
database 286. The extracted inference formulas are each a candidate
inferred to be a candidate that will be probably used on the basis
of information stored in the user present location database 280. A
candidate inference formula is typically a formula, the origin of
which coincides with the present location of the user, or a formula
expressing points including one coinciding with the present
location of the user. It is to be noted that, if a candidate
inference formula is not found, an inference formula is derived
from an inference algorithm to be described later.
[0141] The user-displacement-location history processing unit 264
shown in FIG. 8 computes a location displacement from the user's
immediately preceding location to a next location on the basis of
the user present location database 280 and stores the displacement
in the user location displacement database 284. The
inference-formula determination processing unit 266 finds
information such as the polarity of a continuous location
displacement representing changes in user location information from
the location displacements stored in the user location displacement
database 284. The inference-formula determination processing unit
266 then forms a judgment on validity of the candidate inference
formula, determines a valid candidate inference formula and stores
the determined candidate inference formula in the
determined-inference-formula database 288. It is to be noted that,
in order to determine an inference formula, at least 2 changes in
location information are required.
[0142] In an inference mechanism shown in the diagram of FIG. 48,
the abscissa represents the lapse of time (T) and the ordinate
represents allowed values (B). Allowed values represent a range of
allowed discrepancies relative to values given by an inference
formula. That is to say, a pair of allowed values defines
inference's allowable upper limit and allowable lower limit. The
allowable upper limit is the upper limit of the range of allowed
discrepancies and the allowable lower limit is the lower limit of
the range of allowed discrepancies. If the displacement is between
allowable upper limit and allowable lower limit of the inference
formula, the movement of the user is inferred as a movement in a
direction conforming to the inference formula.
[0143] To put it concretely, a judgment on the validity of a
candidate inference formula is formed as follows. Assume for
example that y=ax is a candidate inference formula, the allowable
upper limit is expressed by y=ax+b where b>0 and the allowable
lower limit is expressed by y=ax-b where b>0. That is to say, +b
is the value of the allowable upper limit and -b is the value of
the allowable lower limit. In this case, if a difference between
the y-distance value given by the candidate inference formula and
the y-distance value of the user at a time T is within the range of
allowable values, the movement of the user can be inferred as a
movement in a direction conforming to the inference formula. Since
the inference formula is a quadratic function expressing a relation
between the location of a mobile information terminal and the time,
the movement speed of the user can also be found with ease.
[0144] Assume for example that the user is at locations A0, A1 and
A2 at times t0, t1 and t2 respectively. In this case, since the
displacements are between allowable upper limit and allowable lower
limit of the inference when the user moves from
A0.fwdarw.A1.fwdarw.A2, the movement of the user can be inferred as
a movement in a direction conforming to the inference formula. As
another example, assume that the user is at locations B0, B1, B2
and B3 at times t0, t1, t2 and t3 respectively. In this case, since
the displacements are beyond allowable range between the upper
limit and the lower limit of the inference when the user moves
along a route of B0.fwdarw.B1.fwdarw.B2.fwdarw.B3, the movement of
the user cannot be judged to be a movement in a direction
conforming to the inference formula. It is to be noted that the
user can be inferred to be in a stationary state between in a
period between times t2 and t3 since there is no displacement
between the locations B2 and B3.
[0145] The above description explains an inference mechanism for a
case in which a proper inference formula is not stored in the
inference-formula master database 234. In order to apply inference
appropriate for a circular road or a winding road, a larger number
of inference formulas is required. In the inference mechanism shown
in FIG. 48, the inference formula is assumed to be a linear
equation. In general, however, an ordinary road is a winding road
respectively, and has a plurality of points of intersection in some
cases. In such a case, it is difficult to find an inference formula
in advance. In order to solve this problem, an inference formula is
set from locations of the user by using a general inference
mechanism shown in FIG. 49. For each of locations Pi located at
equal time intervals, location information is reported and
recorded.
[0146] (i): An inference formula y=a1x+b1 is defined on the basis
of positions P0, P1 and P2 at times t0, t1 and t2 respectively. In
accordance with a concept taken as a basis for finding the
coefficients a1 and b1 of the inference formula y=a1x+b1, the point
P0 (0, 0) is taken as a start point and from P1(x1,y1),P2(x2,y2)
the inference formula is regarded as an equation representing a
linear line passing through the point P0 (0, 0) as well as the
middle point ((x1+x2)/2, (y1+y2)/2)) between the points P1 and
P2.
[0147] (ii): Next, a next inference formula y=a2x+b2 is defined on
the basis of positions P1, P2 and P3 at times t1, t2 and t3
respectively in the same way by taking the point P1 as a start
point this time. That is to say, by the same token, the
coefficients a2 and b2 of the inference formula y=a2x+b2 are found
by regarding the inference formula as an equation representing a
linear line passing through the point P1 as well as the middle
point between the points P2 and P3.
[0148] (iii): Subsequently, while shifting the third point Pi, a
subsequent inference formula y=aix+bi is defined on the basis of
locations P.sub.i+1, P.sub.i and P.sub.i-1 where P.sub.i+1 is the
most recent location, P.sub.i is a location preceding the most
recent location P.sub.i+1 and P.sub.i-1 is a location preceding the
point P.sub.i.
[0149] By defining inference formulas on the basis of information
on points being shifted, that is, information obtained from a
mobile information terminal as described above, it is possible to
predict a location displacement of the mobile information terminal
moving through any points on a road or a route.
[0150] The inference mechanism shown in FIG. 50 is a mechanism for
defining an inference formula by application of a partial
derivative. As an example, the figure shows a case in which a road
has a grid-like shape. As shown in FIG. 50, inference formulas
y=a1x+b1, y=a2x+b2, y=a3x+b3 and y=a4x+b4 are defined in the same
way as the inference mechanism shown in FIG. 49.
[0151] (i): An inference formula y=anx+bn is defined from
P.sub.n-1, P.sub.n and P.sub.n+1 where P.sub.n+1 is the most recent
location.
[0152] (ii): If there is a drastic variation in "an" value where
"an" is the inclination of the defined inference formula, that is,
if the inclination of an inference formula defined at a point of
time is negative (an<0) while the inclination of an inference
formula defined at the following point of time is positive
(a.sub.n+1>0), for example, it is possible to conceive a model
wherein the mobile information terminal is moving from location to
location along a grid-like road like one shown in FIG. 50. In such
a case, by defining an inference formula for each location
displacement and, at the same time, by defining the found inference
formula by application of a partial derivative and on the basis of
all location information stored in the past, it is possible to show
the polarity (or the trend) of the location displacements of the
mobile information terminal. In the case of the inference mechanism
shown in FIG. 50, the inference formula y=aix+bi shows the polarity
(or the trend) of the location displacements of the mobile
information terminal. It is thus possible to show the polarity (or
the trend) of the location displacements by defining an inference
formula for each location displacement and, at the same time, by
defining the inference formula through application of a partial
derivative and on the basis of all past location displacements. By
using such means, it is possible to infer that a movement is a
movement along a winding road or a grid-like road.
[0153] The user-displacement adequacy check processing unit 300
shown in FIG. 9 forms a judgment as to whether or not the user's
location displacement stored in the user location displacement
database 284 is a displacement based on an inference formula stored
in the determined-inference-formula database 288. If the location
displacement is not based on an inference formula, the
inference-formula-candidate extraction determination processing
unit 262 employed in an inference-formula determination processing
management unit 250 shown in FIG. 8 is requested to extract a new
inference formula for the user. As requested, the
inference-formula-candidate extraction determination processing
unit 262 extracts a new inference formula and stores the formula in
the candidate inference-formula database 286.
[0154] Assume for example that inference formulas A and B have been
determined. Inference formula A takes a relatively coarse map with
a large scale factor as a reference whereas inference formula B
takes a relatively fine map with a small scale factor as a
reference. In this case, if the user carrying the mobile
information terminal is moving at a high speed, it is generally
assumed that there is a case in which the location displacement of
the user comes off inference formula B used for predicting a
location displacement of the user. In this case, an inference
formula taking a coarse map with a large scale factor as a
reference is determined to be an inference formula for predicting a
location displacement of the user.
[0155] If the user carrying the mobile information terminal is
moving at a low speed, on the other hand, an inference formula
taking a fine map with a small scale factor as a reference is
determined to be an inference formula for predicting a location
displacement of the user. The inference-formula determination
processing unit 266 shown in FIG. 8 selects an inference formula
among candidates for the inference formula, which are read out from
the user location displacement database 284, and stores the
selected inference formula in the determined-inference-formula
database 288. The validity of this new inference formula is again
checked by the user-displacement adequacy check processing unit
300. As described above, the direction of the movement of the user
and the movement time are inferred.
[0156] (6): Determination of Information on an Information
Provider
[0157] At a step S56 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, the
area-information database 32 (the map-information master database
232) and the information-provider database 30 (the
information-provider master database 210 and the
registration-information category master database 212) are searched
for information corresponding to the moving direction and the
movement time. The information-provider-location determination
processing unit 270 shown in FIG. 8 finds locations of the
information provider from the map-information master database 232
and the information-provider master database 210, and stores
information on the locations of the information provider in the
information-provider location database 290.
[0158] The information-provider-candidate extraction determination
processing unit 272 extracts information providers on the basis of
the user's present location stored in the user present location
database 280 and on the basis of an information category desired by
the user, locations of information providers and categories of
information provided by the information providers, and stores the
extracted information providers in the candidate
information-provider database 292. The information-provider
determination processing unit 274 shown in FIG. 8 determines an
information provider in an area surrounding the mobile information
terminal's location predicted by an inference formula stored in the
determined-inference-formula database 288 among those stored in the
candidate information-provider database 292 and stores the
determined information provider in the information-provider
database 294. A method for determining such an information provider
comprises the steps of:
[0159] (i): Regarding the inference formula as an equation
representing a regression straight line.
[0160] (ii): Finding distances (residuals) to the location of each
information provider existing in the vicinity of the mobile
information terminal's moving destination predicted to be in an
allowable range determined for the inference formula by adoption of
the least-square method.
[0161] (iii): Determining that an information provider is located
at the mobile information terminal's moving destination predicted
by the reference formula if the residual found by adoption of the
least-square method for the information provider is in a range
determined for the inference formula.
[0162] The distribution-order determination processing unit 302
shown in FIG. 9 determines a distribution priority order of
selected information providers and stores the distribution priority
order in the distribution information-provider database 312. The
distribution priority order is determined on the basis of typically
contracts made with the information providers.
[0163] (7): Information Display Execution Processing
[0164] At a step S58 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, the
Information-distribution execution processing unit 306 employed in
the user management unit 20 and shown in FIG. 9 edits an
information menu on the basis of an information category read out
from the user-information database 26 (the user registration
service category master database 172). Then, at the next step S60,
an information menu shown in FIG. 24(c) is transmitted as indicated
by an arrow (154) of the basic sequence shown in FIG. 32 and an
arrow (204) shown in FIG. 33. At a step S320 of the flowchart shown
in FIG. 19, the information display execution processing unit 92
shown in FIG. 4 forms a judgment as to whether or not the
information menu has been received. If the information menu has
been received, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S322.
If the information menu has not been received, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S328. At the step
S322, the information menu is displayed. The information menu
typically includes categories registration by the user. Examples of
the categories are information on traffic, information on trains
and buses, information on shopping, information on events and
information on excursions. Then, at the next step S324, a judgment
is formed to determine whether or not selected information has been
received. If the selected information has been received, the flow
of the processing goes on to a step S326. If the selected
information has not been received, on the other hand, the flow of
the processing goes on to a step S328. At the step S326, the
selected information shown in FIG. 25(d) is transmitted to the
computer system 2 as indicated by an arrow (156) of the basic
sequence shown in FIG. 32 and an arrow (206) of the basic sequence
shown in FIG. 33.
[0165] At a step S100 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the user
service reception processing unit 152 shown in FIG. 5 forms a
judgment as to whether or not the selected information has been
received from the user-interface processing unit 150. If the
selected information has been received, the flow of the processing
goes on to a step S102. If the selected information has not been
received, on the other hand, the processing is ended. At the step
S102, detailed information corresponding to the selected
information is extracted from the distribution target
information-provider database 312 on the basis of the user's
inferred location stored in the target-user database 310.
[0166] To be more specific, if the selected information is
information on traffic, the detailed information is information on
traffic jams for a direction in which the user is moving forward.
If the selected information is information on trains and buses, the
detailed information includes information on arrival times of a
vehicle, on which the user is riding, and information on places for
changing trains or buses on which the user is riding. If the
selected information is information on resort, the detailed
information includes information on parking lots, information on
seaside cottage and information on restaurants in a specific area
on the way for a direction in which the user is moving forward. At
a step S104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the detailed
information shown in FIG. 24(d) is transmitted to the user terminal
6#i by way of the information-distribution execution processing
unit 306 and the user-interface processing unit 150, which are
shown in FIG. 9, as indicated by an arrow (158) of the basic
sequence shown in FIG. 32 and an arrow (208) of the basic sequence
shown in FIG. 33. Then, at the next step S106 of the flowchart
shown in FIG. 15, the selected category information, the
distribution time and the number of users to which the detailed
information is distributed are recorded in the distribution log
database 314.
[0167] At a step S328 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 19, a judgment
is formed to determine whether or not the detailed information has
been received. If the detailed information has been received, the
flow of the processing goes on to a step S330. If the detailed
information has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is ended. At the step S330, the detailed information is
displayed. To be more specific, if the selected information is
information on traffic, what is displayed as the detailed
information is information on traffic jams for a direction in which
the user is moving forward. If the selected information is
information on trains and buses, what are displayed as the detailed
information include information on arrival times of a vehicle, on
which the user is riding, and information on places for changing a
train or a bus on which the user is riding. If the selected
information is information on resort, what are displayed as the
detailed information include information on parking lots,
information on seaside house and information on restaurants in a
specific area on the way for a direction in which the user is
moving forward. As an alternative, what are displayed as the
detailed information include information on buying at a bargain at
a department store or the like existing on the way for a direction
in which the user is moving forward, information on by the hour
bargains at such a department store and information on bargain
coupons issued by such a department store.
[0168] If the user further selects a specific item among items of
the detailed information, the selected item is transmitted from the
user terminal 6#i to the computer system 2 and received by the
computer system 2. Assume for example that a coupon item is
selected from the detailed information. In this case, detailed
information corresponding to the coupon item is retrieved from the
target distribution information-provider database 312 and
transmitted to the user terminal 6#i by way of the
information-distribution execution processing unit 306 and the
user-interface processing unit 150. Typically, the transmitted
detailed information is information on coupons.
[0169] At a step S8 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the
information-distribution management unit 25 carries out the
following processing. At a step S106 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
15, the following processing is carried out. The
distributed-information user-response reception processing unit 350
saves the user's response to distributed information such as a
selected coupon item in the user response result master database
378. The user analysis processing unit 352 shown in FIG. 10
analyzes the user's favorites stored in the target-user database
310 and records a result of the analysis in the user analysis log
database 380. The information-provider analysis processing unit 354
analyzes information providers stored in the user response result
master database 378 and the distribution target
information-provider database 312, being related to the favorites
of the user, and records a result of the analysis in the
information-provider analysis log database 382.
[0170] At a step S108 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the
following processing is carried out. The response-attribute
analysis processing unit 356 analyzes attributes stored in the user
response result master database 378 and the distribution log
database 314, and records a result of the analysis in the
response-attribute analysis log database 384. The analyzed
attributes include the length of time to the user's response to
distributed information and next location information that gets a
response. The analysis-result edit processing unit 358 finds
favorites for improving the effects of notification using priority
levels of an information-providing menu and the contents of
provided information, and stores a result of the analysis in the
analysis result database 386. The priority levels of an
information-providing menu and the contents of provided information
are stored in the user analysis log database 380, the
information-provider analysis log database 382 and the
response-attribute analysis log database 384.
[0171] The analysis-result-report-writing processing unit 362
creates a report 388 from data stored in the analysis result
database 386. At a step S110, on the basis of the report 388, a
result of the favorite calculation is reflected in the user
information. The analysis-result communication processing unit 360
transmits an analysis result stored in the analysis result database
386 to the information-provider terminal 4#i by way of the
information-provider interface processing unit 200.
[0172] (8): User's Request for Urgent Providing of Information
[0173] FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing functions, which are
carried out when the user makes a request for urgent transmission
of information. When the user desires information now, the user
needs to press the URGENT button appearing on the screen shown in
FIG. 34 and enter a special number in order to indicate a level of
urgency. The information-provider-candidate extraction
determination processing unit 272 determines candidate information
providers on the basis of the user's present location stored in the
user present location database 280, the user's desired information
category stored in the user registration service category master
database 172, the information providers' present locations stored
in the information-provider location database 290 and
provided-information categories stored in the
registration-information category master database 212, and stores
the candidate information providers in the candidate
information-provider database 292. The information-provider
determination processing unit 274 determines an information
provider proper for the state of urgency, that is, the level of the
request made by the user, and stores the determined information
provider in the information-provider database 294.
[0174] If a condition for information specified in a request made
by the user and/or a condition for permissiveness of the request
are lenient, the range of allowance for a distance from the present
location of the user to the location of a proper information
provider can be considered to be a wide range, that is, it is
possible to increase a radius of a circle having the present
location of the user as a center point and enclosing an area in
which candidate information providers are located. If a condition
for information specified in a request made by the user and/or a
condition for permissiveness of the request are strict, on the
other hand, the radius of such a circle is decreased. The
Information-distribution processing management unit 304 then reads
out information on the determined information provider from the
information-provider database 294, transmits the information to the
user making the request for distribution of information and stores
the record in the distribution log database 314.
[0175] (9): Inter-Bank Financial Settlements
[0176] FIG. 52 is diagrams each showing a sequence of inter-bank
financial settlement operations. To be more specific, FIG. 52(a) is
a diagram showing a sequence of inter-bank financial settlement
operations for a case in which the information-provider terminal is
a non-mobile terminal. In this case, the computer system requests
the non-mobile information-provider terminal to pay an
information-provider monthly fee. The computer system requests a
mobile user terminal to pay a user monthly fee through the
mobile-communication operator. In the inter-bank financial
settlement, the computer system requests an information provider
and a user to pay their monthly fees through their
financial-transaction institutions.
[0177] FIG. 52(b) is a diagram showing a sequence of inter-bank
financial settlement operations for a case in which the
information-provider terminal is a mobile terminal. In this case,
the computer system requests the mobile information-provider
terminal to pay an information-provider monthly fee through the
mobile-communication operator. The computer system requests a
mobile user terminal to pay a user monthly fee also through the
mobile-communication operator. In the inter-bank financial
settlement, the computer system requests an information provider
and a user to pay their monthly fees through their
financial-transaction institutions.
[0178] FIG. 52(c) is a diagram showing a sequence of inter-bank
financial settlement operations for a case in which the computer
system also carries out network banking works and each user has an
account in a network bank. In this case, the computer system
requests the non-mobile information-provider terminal to pay an
information-provider monthly fee. The computer system requests a
mobile user terminal to pay a user monthly fee through the
mobile-communication operator. In the inter-bank financial
settlement, when the financial-transaction institution of a user
requests the network bank to make a payment, the network bank makes
the payment to the financial-transaction institution and a process
to make a payment to the financial-transaction institution of the
computer system is carried out.
[0179] First Embodiment
[0180] FIG. 53 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a first
embodiment of the present invention. The configuration elements of
the first embodiment essentially identical to those employed in the
information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the
same reference numerals as their counterparts employed in the
information distribution system. In the case of the first
embodiment, user terminals 6#1 and 6#3 are each a non-GPS terminal
whereas a user terminal 6#2 is a GPS terminal. The user of the user
terminal 6#2 desires information on shopping such as restaurants
and supermarkets. On the other hand, the user of the user terminal
6#1 desires information on areas such as information on traffic and
information on accidents. The information on shopping is stored in
the information-provider database 30 included in the computer
system 2 as shown in FIG. 29 in the basic sequence of operations
carried out between a information-provider terminal 4#i owned by
the information provider and the computer system 2 as shown in FIG.
29. In the basic sequence shown in FIG. 29, a recommended
information such as information on locations, the information on
shopping and information on coupons is transmitted to the computer
system 2.
[0181] On the other hand, the computer system 2 acquires area
information such as traffic information and accident information,
which vary from time to time, from a traffic center, and stores the
information on areas in the area-information database 32. In the
case of the information on areas, the locations of the areas and
the contents of the information reflect the location of the
information provider and information provided by the information
provider. Thus, the information on areas is virtually the same as
the information provided by the information provider.
[0182] (1): GPS User Terminal 6#2
[0183] In the case of a GPS user terminal, a service is rendered in
accordance with the sequence shown in FIG. 32. The user of the GPS
user terminal 6#2 desires presentation of information on shopping.
The computer system 2 derives an inference formula for predicting a
moving destination from location information of the GPS user
terminal 6#2 by adoption of the inference mechanism described
earlier.
[0184] FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information. The computer system 2 finds out a proper information
provider by adoption of the least-square method described above and
in accordance with from the location of the GPS user terminal 6#2.
Then, pieces of detailed information for the information category
specified by the GPS user terminal 6#2 are transmitted in a
distribution order. The detailed information includes the names of
department stores, supermarkets and restaurants. The department
stores, the supermarkets and the restaurants pertain to the
information category, which is the shopping-information category in
this case. The GPS user terminal 6#2 displays the detailed
information on a screen like one shown in FIG. 54. In the case of a
department store, a supermarket or the like, information on a
coupon and information on buying at a bargain are also distributed
as well.
[0185] (2): Non-GPS User Terminal 6#1
[0186] In the case of a non-GPS user terminal, a service is
rendered in accordance with the sequence shown in FIG. 33. The user
of the non-GPS user terminal 6#1 desires presentation of
information on areas such as information on traffic and information
on accidents. The computer system 2 acquires the area information
such as the traffic information and the accident information, which
vary from time to time, from a traffic center, and stores the
information on areas in the area-information database 32.
[0187] FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a screen displaying detailed
information. The computer system 2 derives an inference formula for
predicting a moving destination from location information of the
non-GPS user terminal 6#1, which is location information received
via the mobile-communication operator. The computer system 2
transmits information on an area such as information on traffic and
information on accidents in accordance with the information
category desired by the non-GPS user terminal 6#1. The area is an
area surrounding the location of the non-GPS user terminal 6#1. The
location of the non-GPS user terminal 6#1 is predicted by using the
enterprise formula. The non-GPS user terminal 6#1 displays the
detailed area information on a screen like the one shown in FIG.
55.
[0188] In accordance with the first embodiment described above, it
is possible to easily obtain information on an area existing on the
way in the moving direction without specifying a destination of the
movement. In addition, even in the case of mobile information
terminals existing in the same region, information on an area may
or may not be distributed depending on the moving direction. Thus,
the amount of distributed information can be reduced.
[0189] Second Embodiment
[0190] FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a second
embodiment of the present invention. The configuration elements of
the second embodiment essentially identical to those employed in
the information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by
the same reference numerals as their counterparts employed in the
information distribution system. FIG. 57 is a block diagram showing
functions of a computer system 450 employed in the information
distribution service system shown in FIG. 56. Configuration
elements of the computer system 450 that are essentially identical
to those employed in the computer system 2 shown in FIG. 2 are
denoted by the same reference numerals as their counterparts
employed in the computer system 2. In addition to the functions of
the location management unit 22 employed in the first embodiment, a
location management unit 460 has the following additional
functions:
[0191] (i): Identify an area predicted to be a specific area,
toward which users are moving, from predicted moving directions of
users, and identify user terminals 6#i moving to the specific
area.
[0192] (ii): Inform the mobile-communication operator of a map code
of the specific area toward which users are intensively moving,
that is, information on the specific area and the phone number or
the terminal address or each user terminal inferred to be moving
toward the specific area.
[0193] Since the amount of traffic in the specific area toward
which users are moving is predicted to increase, the
mobile-communication operator is notified of the fact that the
traffic will become heavier so that the mobile-communication
operator can take a proactive measure such as a regulation to
suppress traffic congestion. For example, the mobile-communication
operator can notify users of information on a traffic regulation so
that the users avoid moving in the direction toward the area.
[0194] FIG. 58 shows a flowchart representing processing of
location management. FIG. 59 shows a user sequence chart. The user
terminal 6#i transmits a request to start a service to the computer
system 450 as indicated by an arrow (250) of the sequence shown in
FIG. 59. The user terminal 6#i transmits a location-registration
notification to the computer system 450 as indicated by an arrow
(252). At a step S600 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 58, the
location management unit 460 employed in the computer system 450
forms a judgment as to whether or not location information has been
received. If the location information has been received, the flow
of the processing goes on to a step S602. If the location
information has not been received, on the other hand, the
processing is ended. Then, at the next step S604, a process to
infer the user's moving direction and movement time is carried out
by adopting the inference method described above.
[0195] Subsequently, at the next step S606, a judgment is formed to
determine whether or not users the number of which exceeds a
predetermined user count are moving in the moving direction toward
the same area. If users the number of which exceeds a predetermined
user count are moving in the moving direction toward the same area,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S608. If users the
number of which exceeds a predetermined user count are not moving
in the moving direction toward the same area, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S610. At the step
S608, the map code of the area and the terminal address of each of
the users are reported to the mobile-communication operator as
indicated by an arrow 254 of the sequence shown in FIG. 59.
[0196] Since the amount of traffic in the area is predicted to
increase, upon reception of the map code, the mobile-communication
operator notifies the user terminal through the terminal address
that traffic will be regulated by taking a step such as limiting a
traffic flow as indicated by an arrow (256) of the sequence shown
in FIG. 59. From this notification, the user terminal knows in
advance that the amount of traffic at the moving destination will
increase. At the step S610, an area information database is
searched for information corresponding to the moving direction and
the movement time. Then, at the next step S612, an information menu
stored in the user database is edited on the basis of the category
information. Subsequently, at the next step S614, the information
menu is transmitted to the terminal.
[0197] In accordance with the second embodiment described above,
not only are the same effects as the first embodiment exhibited,
but a preventive measure can also be taken in case concentration of
traffic in a certain area is predicted in advance.
[0198] Third Embodiment
[0199] FIG. 60 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a third
embodiment of the present invention. The configuration elements of
the third embodiment essentially identical to those employed in the
information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the
same reference numerals as their counterparts employed in the
information distribution system. FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing
functions of a computer system 500 employed in the information
distribution service system shown in FIG. 60. Configuration
elements of the computer system 500 that are essentially identical
to those employed in the computer system 2 shown in FIG. 2 are
denoted by the same reference numerals as their counterparts
employed in the computer system 2. In addition to the functions of
the location-management unit employed in the first embodiment, a
location management unit 510 has the following additional
functions:
[0200] (i): Form a judgment as to whether or not a user is riding
on a vehicle such as a train or a bus on the basis of data stored
in a vehicle operation information database included in the
area-information database 32, a moving direction and a movement
time, and identify what kind of vehicle is used if the user is
riding on a vehicle.
[0201] (ii): Identify what vehicle the user is riding on, on the
basis of data stored in a vehicle operation information
database.
[0202] (iii): Edit an information menu including an arrival time of
the identified vehicle and information on an area in which a
destination station of the vehicle is located.
[0203] The vehicle operation information database included in the
area-information database 32 includes route information showing
operation routes and an operation time table of each route. The
route information is information on locations located on a
contiguous line and information on allowable displacements.
Examples of the contiguous line are a trunk road, a highway and a
rail road. Provided for each vehicle running through a route,
operation information for the route includes the name of each place
at which the vehicle will arrive and the geographical location of
such a place as well as an operation time, that is, a time of
arrival at the place.
[0204] FIG. 62 shows a flowchart representing a processing of
location management. FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a screen
displaying detailed information. At a step S700 of the flowchart
shown in FIG. 62, the location management unit 510 forms a judgment
as to whether or not location information has been received. If the
location information has been received, the flow of the processing
goes on to a step S702. If the location information has not been
received, on the other hand, the processing is ended. Then, at the
next step S704, a process to infer the user's moving direction and
movement time is carried out by adopting the inference mechanism
described above. Subsequently, at the next step S706, a judgment is
formed to determine whether or not the moving direction is to be
compared with the operation route of a vehicle. If the moving
direction is to be compared with the operation route of a vehicle,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S708. If the moving
direction is not to be compared with the operation route of a
vehicle, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a
step S714. At the step S708, the moving direction is compared with
the operation route of a vehicle to determine whether or not the
moving direction coincides with the operation route of a vehicle.
If the moving direction coincides with the operation route of a
vehicle, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S710. If the
moving direction does not coincide with the operation route of a
vehicle, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to
the step S714. This is because a vehicle cannot be identified.
[0205] At the step S710, the vehicle, which the user is riding on,
is identified, and the vehicle-operation data base is searched for
information on vehicle operations and information on areas. The
pieces of information are then combined to be used in a work to
edit an information menu. Assume for example that the vehicle is a
train. In this case, the vehicle-operation database is searched for
information on stations on the way to the destination and a time of
arrival at the terminal station, guiding information showing
transfer stations as well as information on delays caused by an
accident or the like. These pieces of information are included in
the information menu. In addition, the area-information database 32
is also searched for information on an area surrounding each of the
stations. Such information can also be included in the information
menu.
[0206] The above description for a train is applicable to a public
bus used as a vehicle. Then, at a step S712, the information menu
is transmitted to the terminal. At the step S714, the
area-information database is searched for data for the moving
direction and the movement time. Then, at the next step S716, an
information menu is edited on the basis of category information
retrieved from the user database. Subsequently, at a step S718, the
information menu is transmitted to the terminal. As shown in FIG.
63, the screen displays, among others, an item for information on
train changes.
[0207] In accordance with the third embodiment described above, not
only are the same effects as the first embodiment exhibited, but it
is also possible to obtain travel-destination information according
to operation information of a vehicle the user is riding on.
[0208] Fourth Embodiment
[0209] FIG. 64 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a fourth
embodiment of the present invention. The configuration elements of
the fourth embodiment essentially identical to those employed in
the information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by
the same reference numerals as their counterparts employed in the
information distribution system. FIG. 65 is a block diagram showing
functions of a computer system 550 employed in the information
distribution service system shown in FIG. 64. Configuration
elements of the computer system 550 that are essentially identical
to those employed in the computer system 2 shown in FIG. 2 are
denoted by the same reference numerals as their counterparts
employed in the computer system 2. In addition to the functions of
the location-management unit employed in the first embodiment, a
location management unit 560 has the following additional
functions:
[0210] (i): Find a moving speed from information on locations along
the time series and, from the moving speed, determine whether the
user is walking or riding on a vehicle moving at a high speed such
as an automobile.
[0211] (ii): Select candidates for a moving destination on the
basis of the moving direction of the user and on the basis of
whether or not the user is riding on a vehicle. If the user is
riding on a car, for example, the candidates for the moving
destination are limited to locations within a distance of not
longer than 10 km from the user in the moving direction.
[0212] (iii): Edit an information menu including information on the
area of each candidate for the moving destination.
[0213] FIG. 66 shows a flowchart representing a
location-registration process. FIG. 67 is a diagram showing a
screen displaying detailed information. At a step S800 of the
flowchart shown in FIG. 66, the location management unit 560 forms
a judgment as to whether or not information on a location has been
received. If information on a location has been received, the flow
of the processing goes on to a step S802. If information on a
location has not been received, on the other hand, the processing
is ended. At a step S804, the user's moving direction and movement
time are inferred by using the inference method described earlier.
Then, the flow of the processing goes on to the next step S806 to
form a judgment as to whether or not the moving speed of the user
is to be compared with that of a vehicle. If the moving speed of
the user is to be compared with that of a vehicle, the flow of the
processing goes on to a step S808. If the moving speed of the user
is not to be compared with that of a vehicle, on the other hand,
the flow of the processing goes on to a step S810. At the step
S808, the moving speed of the user is examined to determine whether
the user is walking or riding on a vehicle.
[0214] At the step S810, the area-information database 32 is
searched for information appropriate for the moving direction and
the movement time. If the user is riding on a car, for example, the
candidates for the moving destination are limited to locations
within a distance of not longer than 10 km from the user in the
moving direction. If a bathing beach is selected as a candidate for
the moving destination, an expected time of arrival at the bathing
beach, the state of road traffic congestion and information on a
by-pass are searched for. At a place where the user is further
approaching the bathing beach, the amount of additional information
is increased. Examples of the additional information include an
expected time of arrival at the bathing beach, the state of road
traffic congestion, information on a by-pass and information on
available parking lots. At a place where the user is further
approaching the vicinity of the bathing beach, information on
available parking lots, information on the seaside cottage and
information on restaurants classified by business hour are searched
for as detailed information. In addition, if there is a plurality
of available parking lots, a parking lot convenient for parking a
car running in the moving direction is selected at a high priority
level. FIG. 67 shows information on a bathing beach, information on
a parking lot close to the bathing beach, information on seaside
cottage and information on restaurants. In the above description, a
bathing beach is explained as an example. Conceivable destinations
other than a bathing beach include an amusement park, a skiing
ground, a golf course and an airport.
[0215] If the user is walking, on the other hand, the candidates
for the moving destination are limited to locations within a
distance of not longer than 1 km from the user in the moving
direction. If a department store is selected as a candidate for the
destination, an expected time of arrival at the department store
and information on bargain sales are searched for as detailed
information. At a place where the user is further approaching the
department store, additional information is searched for as menu
information. The additional information includes an expected time
of arrival at the department store and information on seasonal
bargain sales during a specified period of time such as a
bargain-sale place, commodities sold at a bargain and their bargain
prices. At a place where the user is further approaching the
vicinity of the department store, information on seasonal bargain
sales during a specified period of time and information on coupons
are acquired as detailed information.
[0216] In accordance with the fourth embodiment described above,
not only are the same effects as the first embodiment exhibited,
but it is also possible to render a service of distributing
detailed information in a range, which varies depending on whether
the user is walking or riding on a vehicle.
[0217] Fifth Embodiment
[0218] FIG. 68 is a diagram showing the configuration of an
information distribution service system implemented by a fifth
embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment's
configuration elements essentially identical to those employed in
the information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by
the same reference numerals as their counterparts employed in the
information distribution system. FIG. 69 is a block diagram showing
functions of a computer system 600 employed in the information
distribution service system shown in FIG. 68. Configuration
elements of the computer system 600 that are essentially identical
to those employed in the computer system 2 shown in FIG. 2 are
denoted by the same reference numerals as their counterparts
employed in the computer system 2. FIG. 70 is a block diagram
showing functions of a information-provider management unit 650
employed in the computer system 600 shown in FIG. 69, which are
functions carried out for a response given by the user. FIGS. 71
and 72 are diagrams showing the configurations of store-management
systems 610 and 620 respectively, employed in the information
distribution service system shown in FIG. 68.
[0219] FIG. 73 shows a sequence of operations carried out by the
user. As indicated by an arrow (300) of the sequence shown in FIG.
73, the user terminal 6#i transmits a request for a start of a
service to the computer system 600. As indicated by an arrow (304),
the computer system 600 transmits an information menu to the user
terminal 6#i. As indicated by an arrow (306), the user terminal 6#i
transmits selected information to the computer system 600. As
indicated by an arrow (308), the computer system 600 transmits
detailed information to the user terminal 6#i. As indicated by an
arrow (310), the user terminal 6#i transmits a response to the
information notification. In this case, the distributed-information
user-response reception processing unit 350 shown in FIG. 70
receives the response from the user-interface processing unit 150
and stores the response in the user response result master database
378. The response includes a result of the user's response to the
distributed information.
[0220] A user analysis processing unit 352 analyzes a user on the
basis of information stored in the user response result master
database 378 and information stored in the target-user database
310, and stores a result of the analysis in the user analysis log
database 380. A user-displacement-speed computation processing unit
700 searches the user location displacement database 284 for
location displacements of the responding user, the response given
by which is stored in the user response result master database 378.
The location displacements are used as a basis for finding the
moving speed of the user. An inferred-distance computation
processing unit 702 computes an estimated distance to the location
of an information provider responded by the user, the response
given by which is stored in the user response result master
database 378, from information stored in the distribution target
information-provider database 312. An estimated-arrival-time
computation processing unit 704 finds an expected time of arrival
from the moving speed of the user and the estimated distance and
stores the expected time of arrival in the
inferred-user-arrival-time database 750.
[0221] A response-result-edit processing unit 680 finds an accurate
expected time of arrival to the information provider from
information stored in an inferred-user-arrival-time database 750
and a response-attribute analysis log database 384 particularly
used for storing, among other data, a time at which the user
responds. The response-result-edit processing unit 680 then edits
items to be reported to other information providers and stores the
edited item in a response-result database 722. A
response-result-notification processing unit 682 transmits the
response result stored in the response-result database 722 to the
information provider by way of the information-provider interface
processing unit 200 as indicated by an arrow (312) of a sequence
shown in FIG. 73. The store management system 610 or 620 of the
information provider receives the response result.
[0222] (a): Restaurant Serving as an Information Provider of the
Store Management System 610
[0223] If the information provider is a restaurant, the provided
information includes a recommended menu, a seat reservation and a
parking lot reservation. On the other hand, responses shown by the
user are food orders. A response notification given by the computer
system 600 includes a time at which the user reacted, the user's
registered name or ID and an expected time of arrival at the
restaurant in addition to the user's response itself. An
information-processing apparatus 800 employed in the store
management system 610 shown in FIG. 71 displays a parking lot
reservation and a seat reservation on a parking lot display unit
804 and a seat display unit 806 respectively, the user's expected
time of arrival and ordered food on a kitchen display unit 808 and
information such as the name of the user, the number of the people
in the party, the expected time of arrival and a menu of foods for
reservation on a staff-room display unit 810 through a
display-unit-driving control apparatus 802.
[0224] Receiving the response notification, the store management
system 610 gives a response, which shows that the response
notification has been received, as indicated by an arrow (314) of
the sequence shown in FIG. 73. The computer system 600 passes on
the reception response received from the store management system
610 (the information provider) to the user terminal 6#i as a
response notification as indicated by arrows (316). As such, the
information provider allows restaurant kitchen staffs to know the
user's reserved food menu and expected time of arrival. In this
case, by the information provider, collaboration between a job
management system and the present invention is realized. Thus, the
aim of the preparation work becomes obvious, and since the user's
expected time of arrival is known, service staffs can render a
service to serve customers smoothly. That is to say, the work
efficiency of the restaurant business can be improved and the
profit can hence be increased. In addition, the user no longer
worries about the availability of a parking lot and the
availability of a seat and can expect that the time to wait for the
foods to become ready is reduced substantially.
[0225] (b): A Retailer/Distributor Serving as the Information
Provider of the Store Management System 620
[0226] If the information provider is a vendor, the provided
information is a message saying: "A discount rate varying depending
on a time between the user's expected time of arrival at the store
and a commodity-purchasing time is applied." For example, "a
discount rate of 50%, 40% or 30% is applied if a time between the
user's expected time of arrival at the store and a
commodity-purchasing time is no more than 10 minutes, 20 minutes or
30 minutes respectively," or a message saying: "If this is clicked,
an expected time of arrival at the store and an electronic coupon
to be submitted to the cashier are displayed. So, submit the coupon
to the cashier when you make a purchase payment." As the user's
response to such provided information, the user clicks a
predetermined portion of the screen. A response notification issued
by the computer system 600 includes a time at which the user
reacted and an expected time of arrival at the store in addition to
the user's response itself. A sales management processing system
820 employed in the store management system 620 shown in FIG. 72
informs an inventory management system 822 and a POS management
system 824 of a commodity to which a discount rate is applicable as
indicated in the response notification.
[0227] Receiving the response notification, the store management
system 620 gives a response, which shows that the response
notification has been received, as indicated by an arrow (314) of
the sequence shown in FIG. 73. The computer system 600 passes on
the reception response received from the store management system
620 (the information provider) to the user terminal 6#i as a
response notification as indicated by arrows (316). For example,
assume that the expected time of arrival at the store is 00:00 to
00:00. In this case, if the time of a payment for a purchased
commodity B to the cashier is within 10 minutes, 20 minutes or 30
minutes from the expected time of arrival at the store, a discount
rate of 50%, 40% or 30% respectively is applied. When making the
payment, submit what is displayed this time to the cashier.
[0228] In addition, a technique of selling commodities in
accordance with a weather forecast and/or a road condition can
increase the efficiency. For example, tire chains are required due
to a fall of snow in a certain area and areas in the north of the
certain area. In this case, a store selling tire chains distributes
information urging the user moving to those areas to make a
reservation for purchasing tire chains. For a user making such a
reservation, tire chains are then reserved separately from those
displayed at the shop.
[0229] As described above, the present invention specifies an
enterprise, which provides information desired by a user to the
user, by predicting a moving direction of the user through adoption
of an inference mechanism and identifying information providers
existing in an area in the predicted moving direction. Examples of
the enterprise providing information are a food and drink
enterprise, a parking-lot enterprise, a retailing enterprise and a
distribution enterprise. By collaboration between the present
invention and a job management system, the information provider is
capable of discovering a new selling technique that cannot be
adopted with the conventional system and, at the same time, the
management efficiency can be improved and the profit can hence be
increased. That is to say, the effect of the present invention on
industries is profound.
[0230] In accordance with the present invention described above, it
is possible to easily obtain information on an area existing on the
way in the moving direction without specifying a destination of the
movement. In addition, even in the case of mobile information
terminals existing in the same region, information on an area may
or may not be distributed depending on the moving direction. Thus,
the amount of distributed information can be reduced. Furthermore,
distribution of information and mobile information terminals can be
controlled in conjunction with a mobile-communication operator.
[0231] The present invention is not limited to the details of the
above described preferred embodiments. The scope of the invention
is defined by the appended claims and all changes and modifications
as fall within the equivalence of the scope of the claims are
therefore to be embraced by the invention.
* * * * *